Beschreibung:

Dickens, Charles (1812-1870) The Christmas Books, Including a Signed Copy of A Christmas Carol. London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. First edition, second issue, signed by Dickens at the head of the preface leaf (possibly supplied from another copy), with other inscriptions likely made by the recipient, dated 5 December 1850; half-title and verso of title printed in blue, title-page printed in red and blue, illustrated with hand-colored frontispiece, three hand-colored etched plates by John Leech and four wood-engravings in the text by W.J. Linton after Leech; two pages of publisher's advertisements after the text; with the following edition points: the first chapter heading titled "Stave I," balance of text uncorrected, red and blue title-page dated 1843, yellow endpapers, with the first impression second issue second state of the binding (the upper serif of "D" of Dickens broken off), in publisher's brown ribbed cloth, covers with decorative blind border surrounding central gilt cartouche and lettering on front board, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, a.e.g.; binding shaken, first signature detached; binding slightly cocked, corners soft. [and] The Chimes; The Cricket on the Hearth; The Battle of Life; and The Haunted Man, London, 1845-1848, all in publisher's decoratively blind- and gilt-stamped red cloth; the complete set housed in a velvet-lined green morocco box molded to look like a set of books, gilt; ex libris John A. Spoor (1851-1926), all volumes 6 1/2 x 4 1/4 in. (6)